-- The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates will
visit China April 8-15. China's Special Envoy to the Middle
East Sun Bigan will travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Europe
from April 9-18 to discuss the Palestine-Israel issue. The
Boao Forum for Asia will be held in China's Hainan Island
from April 20-22.

2. MFA Spokesman Qin Gang at the April 5 regular press
briefing deflected a question on reports that VFM Wu Dawei
called it "unlikely" the parties would meet an April 13
deadline set out in the February Initial Actions agreement.
The spokesman pushed for flexibility and constructive efforts
from all parties and reiterated that it is in the interests
of all parties to implement the Initial Actions agreement.
In response to a question on whose fault it was the February
agreement was &falling apart,8 Qin replied China is ready
to make joint efforts with all parties, including Macao, to
implement the initial actions.

3. Vice-Admiral Wu Shengli is visiting Hawaii and
Washington, DC April 1-8 to build mutual trust and strengthen
pragmatic, strategic cooperation. The visit includes
meetings with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Pace, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Secretary
of Navy and other officials from the Asia-Pacific
Headquarters and Pacific Fleet, said Qin. Vice-Admiral Wu
also plans to visit the Naval Academy.

Wen's Visits to Japan and ROK
-----------------------------

4. PM Wen,s upcoming visit to Japan aims to increase mutual
understanding and strengthen consensus to improve
cooperation, trade and the momentum in bilateral ties, Qin
said. As neighbors, China and Japan have large potential for
cooperation in economics, finance and small-and-medium
enterprises, said Qin. Both sides are still consulting on
the specifics of a proposed high-level economic dialogue.
China expressed hope Japan would properly handle the Taiwan
issue. He reemphasized China's view that the "Three
Political Documents" form the basis for bilateral ties.

5. PM Wen will meet with the President, Prime Minister and
other parliament leaders during his visit to South Korea
before he visits Japan. As neighbors, greater cooperation
between China and the ROK will promote regional peace and
stability, added Qin, providing no additional details or
comment in response to questions about a military hotline
between the two countries.

Angola Military Agreement?
--------------------------

6. Asked by Portuguese media for details regarding a
military agreement between China and Angola, Qin denied
knowledge of the agreement and claimed it was not in the
purview of the MFA.

7. At the invitation of FM Li Zhaoxing, United Arab Emirates
FM Al Nahyan will visit China April 8-15. China's Special
Envoy to the Middle East Sun Bigan will travel to Saudi
Arabia, Palestine, Israel and Europe from April 9-18 to
discuss the Palestine-Israel issue among others.

8. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo will attend
the annual Boao Forum for Asia hosted in China's Hainan
Island from April 20-22. He will meet other leaders on the
sidelines of the Forum.
RANDT

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